Nigeria’s 2016 Olympic Soccer Team wins over Japan 5-4
Nigeria’s men’s soccer team made an extraordinary start to its Olympic campaign, beating Japan 5-4 in Manaus on Thursday just hours after landing in Brazil following a nerve-wracking travel mix-up.
The team was stranded in Atlanta for days amid a bizarre saga that saw flights cancelled because of missed payments and because a plane was too small, before eventually taking off on the morning of the game.
The Nigerian squad eventually landed in Manaus at 2:19 p.m. on Thursday afternoon, with the game against Japan beginning at 9 p.m.
However, despite what would seem to be the worst kind of preparation, Nigeria produced an inspired display to sink Japan. The contest was evenly matched in the opening stages, with honors remaining even following a frantic opening burst that produced four goals in 10 minutes.
Sadiq Umar put Nigeria ahead just five minutes in, before Shinzo Koroki equalized moments later from the penalty spot. Oghenakaro Etobo put the African side back in front, only for Takumi Minamino to again make things all square.
But when Etebo put Nigeria back in front after 41 minutes the tone was set. Etebo completed his hat trick after 50 minutes, calmly slotting home his fourth to make it 5-2 on 65 minutes.
There was still time for some late drama though, as Nigerian legs, not surprisingly, faded late. Takuma Asano pulled one back with 20 minutes to go, and Musashi Suzuki narrowed the gap to one deep into injury time.
However, Nigeria’s night of glory was completed seconds later when the referee blew for full-time, finishing off a remarkable, and exhausting day for a team whose plight captured international attention and sympathy.
The Nigeria U-23 team against predictions in the early hours of friday defeated Japan 5-4 notwithstanding long delays in their flight from Atlanta, United States of America (USA) on Thursday night to Brazil.
Apparently elated by their triumph in spite of the frustrating experience in their long tortuous journey to the Rio Olympic, Brazil, the four-goal-hero in the 5-4 victory of the Nigeria U-23 team against Japan, Oghenekaro Etebo has said his target was to help the team win the gold rather than pursuing the highest goal scorer award.
Speaking at the post match press conference, Etebo who was given the match ball after the game, said: “Scoring all the goals in this competition and not winning the gold medal would have amounted to a waste of effort and that’s not my target. Yes, it would be great to see my efforts contributing to the success of the team, but if it will not lead us to the gold, then I do not want it.”
Etebo disclosed that the motivating factor in the team was Coach Samson Siasia who had played the role of a father to the players even in times when they did not believe they could do it, adding that the players were motivated to win for him.
Calling on Nigerians to continue to support them, the Portugal based marksman said they were happy to put smiles on the faces of Nigerians who they knew were awake all night to watch them play the Japanese.
Some pundits had predicted that the team would not be able to make it to the march venue before the blast of the referees whistle.
However, an arrangement saw Delta Airlines lifting them to Rio at the last moment where the team went ahead to snatch victory from Japan which had been on ground and well rested for the encounter.
The dream team as they are known, would be having their next match on Monday, August 8, 2016.
Here are the video highlights of the game:
